Key points

40% of school-age children miss at least three days of school due to injury or illness.
Schools are increasingly reviewing health records to identify potential outbreaks.
Hand hygiene is poor among middle and high school students, contributing to illness spread.
Students miss significant school days due to common cold and influenza.
Prevention methods include teaching children to wash their hands regularly, using hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and getting regular flu vaccinations.

In the Nurse's Office: Common Sicknesses in Schools [Infographic]

School Healthcare Facts and Stats

In 2000, 61.9% of schools reviewed health records to help identify potential outbreaks. By 2006, this number had increased to 74.8%.
76% of schools provided funding or staff development to nurses for infectious disease prevention.
One study revealed that only half of middle and high school aged children wash their hands after using the restroom. Just 33% of girls and only 8% per of boys used soap.
There are an average of 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths each year due to the flu. About 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized with flu-related complications.
Only 34.8% of children between 2 and 17 who had a high-risk condition received a flu shot in 2005.
Lunch trays had 33,800 bacteria per square inch in a 2005 study.
77% of schools carried the appropriate supplies for standard health precautions.
School water fountains hosted 2.7 million bacteria per square inch in a 2005 study.
Students miss approximately 22 million school days year year because of the common cold.
Students miss approximately 38 million school days each year because of the influenza virus.
Most schools require a school physical before the start of each school year.

How to Prevent Common Illnesses in Schools

Teach children to wash hands regularly, particularly before eating, after using the restroom, coughing or sneezing, touching animals and touching garbage. The Mayo Clinic suggests that children that children sing "Happy Birthday" twice through while washing their hands to make sure they spend sufficient time on the task.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol.
Instruct children to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze.
Get regular flu vaccinations for everyone in the home six months of age or older.

FAQs

How many school-age children miss school due to illness or injury?

Approximately 40% of school-age children miss at least three days of school each year due to injury or illness.

Are schools taking measures to identify potential outbreaks?

Yes, schools are increasingly reviewing health records to identify potential outbreaks, with the number increasing from 61.9% in 2000 to 74.8% in 2006.

What is the state of hand hygiene among middle and high school students?

It's not ideal. Only half of middle and high school aged children wash their hands after using the restroom, and even fewer use soap.

How many school days are missed due to common cold and influenza?

Students miss approximately 22 million school days each year due to the common cold and around 38 million due to the influenza virus.

How many school days do students miss each year because of the common cold and influenza virus?

Students miss approximately 22 million school days each year because of the common cold and around 38 million school days each year because of the influenza virus.

What are some ways to prevent common illnesses in schools?

Some ways to prevent common illnesses in schools include teaching children to wash their hands regularly, using hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, instructing children to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze, and getting regular flu vaccinations for everyone in the home six months of age or older.

How often should children wash their hands to prevent illness?

Children should wash their hands regularly, particularly before eating, after using the restroom, coughing or sneezing, touching animals, and touching garbage.

What is the recommended alcohol content in hand sanitizers according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD

Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD, is a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine physician and urgent care executive. He earned his MD from Jefferson Medical College, currently serves on multiple boards and is Solv’s Chief Medical Officer.

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Medically reviewed

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History

Solv’s team of medical writers and experts review and update our articles when new information becomes available.

August 11 2013
Written by Solv Editorial Team
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD